11 Best After-Christmas Clearance Items to Buy (Get up to 90% Off!)
Don’t miss out on Christmas clearance deals!
The Christmas clearance shopping is here! 🤗
Oh, how we love this sweet, little word: CLEARANCE! 😍 The 2022 after-Christmas clearance sales are here – and we couldn’t be more excited!
One of the best times to stock up on holiday decor, non-food gifts, paper items, ornaments, and more for next year is after Christmas when items typically go on clearance for 50-90% off! This is a great time to score deep discounts on all things Christmas so you can avoid paying retail prices next year.
Check out this video we created on Instagram here…
Usually, retailers like Target, Walmart, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and other popular stores start marking down their holiday inventory to 50% off on or in some places before December 26th in order to make room for New Year’s, Super Bowl, and Valentine’s Day items.
Then, a few days before New Year’s Day (around December 28th-31st), many stores will mark down their Christmas clearance items to 70-75% off. With last year’s axing of most holiday activities, we can’t be 100% sure what to expect this year, but we’re hoping that the Christmas clearance sales will be business as usual!
Then, after the New Year, things get REALLY exciting…
After the New Year is usually when you’ll start seeing up to 80% and even 90% off Christmas clearance at stores like Walgreens, CVS, Michaels, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Target, AND Hobby Lobby!
While you can’t beat paying only 10% for next year’s holiday items, the selection of items may be picked over. But stock up if you can!
Here are 10 Christmas clearance items to watch for:
1. Gift wrap
Grab these items while you can! Look for wrapping paper, gift bags, tissue paper, gift tags, ribbons, and bows on the cheap and stock up for next year (and boxed greeting cards, too)!
Also, consider buying colors or prints that can be used for other holidays throughout the year (i.e. silver/gold for anniversaries, red for Valentine’s Day, purple/blue for birthday parties, etc).
2. Paper products & storage
Stock up on holiday paper plates, cups, napkins, facial tissue, paper towels, cutlery, etc. when they hit rock bottom prices and store them away for next season. You’ll be able to throw next year’s holiday party on the cheap, which will take a little stress off when that time rolls around again.
Also, be sure to watch for discounts on holiday items like Ziploc storage bags & containers, holiday-colored plastic wraps, baking cups, foil pans with lids, and other kitchen essentials you can use all year long!
3. Kitchen & bath items
Another thing to be on the lookout for is holiday kitchen towels, potholders, dishes, storage tins, serving trays, kitchen rugs, bath towels, soap dispensers, and other fun items that would also make great gifts and hold up nicely until next year! I love having fresh, new hand towels to hang up in my kitchen or bathroom every year that I’ve forgotten about—and they make great gifts, too!
Also be sure to price-check any holiday household items (like dish soap, hand soap, etc) if they’re not marked down as they may ring up with holiday clearance pricing!
4. Ornaments
We’re already seeing some pre-Christmas clearance deals of up to 50% on ornaments from stores like Target. We’re expecting these deals to get even better after 12/25!
5. Holiday Decor
This is the perfect time to stock up on boxes of lights, ornaments, stockings, tree skirts, throw pillows, and loads of other festive home decor on the cheap. If you’ve been waiting for a deal on a new Christmas tree or an inflatable for the front yard, now is the time to snag one at a huge discount!
6. Gift sets
Need a belated holiday gift this year? If so, you may want to snatch up a discounted gift basket filled with food, hot beverage mixes, K-Cups, or candies. Otherwise, steer clear of stocking up on pre-packaged gift baskets that have food/candy items in them as the items may not be edible by this time next year.
However, if you don’t care about the gift packaging and are able to score a sweet deal on one, it may be worth breaking apart the gift basket and eating the items separately before they expire.
It’s best to look for non-food gift sets, such as body wash duos, beauty sets, cute mugs, stationery sets, ornaments, games, etc. that you can use all year long OR that you can save to use for gifts next year (think teachers, neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family members!).
7. Seasonal food items
Love drinking Peppermint Mocha coffee year-round? Have kiddos who love any type of cookie in their school lunches? Be sure to look for discounted food items and snacks in seasonal flavors that you or your kiddos wouldn’t mind eating soon OR for upcoming parties or events (i.e. Super Bowl).
We can’t get enough of those frosted sugar cookies from the bakery, so I’ll definitely be watching for those to be marked down!
You can also often find flavored coffee and coffee creamers, refrigerated or packaged holiday cookies, various candies, flavored snacks, meat and cheese sets, etc. that will be marked down. But they often go fast, so you’ll want to be quick! Just remember to grab foods that you’ll be able to freeze or eat soon to minimize your chances of having to throw out expired food.
8. Clothing pieces & accessories
Don’t skip the clothing aisles! If you find any clearance on ugly Christmas sweaters, shirts, socks, pajamas, or other apparel items that would be fun to wear to your next company Christmas party, be sure to grab those while you can. You can always tuck them away in the attic and you’ll have a surprise when you get out the holiday items when next year rolls around!
These clothing items always make fun stocking stuffers and White Elephant gifts, too!
9. Pet toys & treats
Chances are your pet likely won’t care if they’re chewing on a candy-cane-shaped bone in June or playing with a Santa-shaped squeaker toy in February. 😂 Look for clearance deals for your pet and stock up on treats if you think your pet will enjoy the items before they expire.
10. Books & advent calendars
Books and coloring books are always great gift ideas, especially if you have kiddos who participate in book exchanges at school. If you see any reading material on sale (especially the popular Elf on the Shelf set), grab them and store them away for next year.
Also, non-food Advent Calendars are another great item to be on the lookout for!
11. Stocking stuffers
While you won’t want to purchase candy now to fill next year’s stockings, you can fill up your cart with discounted holiday pencils, plush toys, mugs, beauty products, mini candles, travel games, crafts or activities, and more! Check out some stocking stuffer ideas here!
Check out some of our best store-shopping hacks!
It’s been six years since we’ve had Christmas clearance in our area. I have friends working at W and T and it seems like they’ve been instructed to start putting the Christmas stuff in the back on the 24th.
Bummer! Thanks so much for letting us know what you’ve heard, Krissy! Hoping there might be some good clearance deals to be found still! 🤞❤️
So, no sales after CHRISTMAS Sales this year? I am not totally surprised. Recovering from the pandemic is not an easy task. Maybe our government should take notes- we’re only 20+ trillion in the hole and we are still giving away money I cannot stand people who go overboard with other people’s money.
target is doing it right now.
Valentine’s merchandise is already going out on the shelves in our Home Goods/Marshalls stores in FL as well as JoAnn Fabrics and Michael’s craft stores. It also seems CVS, Walgreens, and Target have really scaled back on how much Christmas stock they got in to start with. When clearance time comes, there’s virtually nothing left to pick from. Last year I saw what Krissy mentioned with Walgreens just packing up the holiday merchandise from the shelves before new year’s day.
We’ve spotted the same about Valentine’s Day merchandise in stores nearby, FSUGAL! Thanks for taking a moment to share your thoughts with us on this! 💓
It seems the best time to grab the deals is when they bring it down to 50-60% off. Otherwise, there is nothing left when they get to the 70 or 90%. 50-60% is still a great deal! Love you HIP2SAVE and Merry, Merry Christmas!
Thanks for sharing, Michelle! I agree that the higher the discount, the fewer the selection! Thank you for your sweet words – we sure appreciate you! Merry Christmas! 🎄❤️
We also noticed changes in people’s Christmas buying since covid. I feel like everything got snapped up at 50% right away and never went higher.
I joke that it’s all the newbies who never stalked a clearance sale before snapping it up at 50% off. My husband laughs that I don’t consider it a sale until it’s 70% 😂
🤣🤣🤣
Not true in Lafayette Indiana. Our stores are busting with product. Kohl’s has boxes and boxes of clothes in the isles that workers are trying to get put out. Sam’s Club is over flowing with boxes of clothes too. Walmart has extra toy isles in the garden center full of toys. And I have NEVER seen Hobby Lobby have so much Christmas that they are still bring stuff out to put on the shelves and marked down to 70% off. Hoping for some really good clearance sales after Christmas to get ready for next Christmas:) I have 13 grandkids and buy all year round:)
Thanks for sharing about your location, Pam! Hoping you score some great deals soon! 🤞🤗❤️
think they will price match if you buy today?
Hey Jacky! You might check the specific store’s price matching policies to be sure. Target, for example, has a holiday price match policy that’s only in effect until December 24th. Hoping this helps! 🎄
This week Ralph’s has a digital coupon for $1 off ziplock bags. All the holiday bags are $1.50 a box at my Ralph’s (Kroger), so when you pair it with a coupon it comes out to $.50 a box!
YAY! Thank you for sharing, Cher! 💕
I like to buy Christmas candy when it gets marked down for other holidays. For example, I will buy Hershey’s Kisses in red and green colors, then sort it so that I have red for Valentine’s Day and Green for St. Patrick’s Day. Many people also think that the date on food stuff is a rule. Most foods are good long past the best buy date printed on the package. Even then, it doesn’t become harmful, it just may not be quite as good. While I would not gift food gift sets that are past their marked date, I would have zero problem buying something for my own use that is shelf stable. I have purchased those cute baking kits like Mickey Mouse Halloween cookies or cake pop sets and they have been perfectly fine 1 or more years later. This was mix though. I doubt the prebaked cookie sets would be very good. I have also gotten hot cocoa sets with mugs, removed the cheap cocoa packets that come with them and substituted a better quality like Swiss Miss for my kids. Things like that also make great, inexpensive gifts that their Elf on the Shelf can bring or use as props.
Thanks, Chantel! We sure appreciate you sharing this feedback.🥰
I do the same with the candies, the rolo candies are red, green, and gold. Red is for Valentine’s Day, green is for st Patrick’s day, and the leprechaun leaves a pot of gold ones when he visits 😆
For decades we had an Orowheat outlet in Reno. Because it had moved once before, when it disappeared I called corporate to find out their new location. I was told they had closed all other sites. With the ability to track sales by computer now they are better able to PREDICT sales and adjust production accordingly! Soooo, very little Overstock now and no longer worth keeping outlet stores going. I’ve noticed the same for all retail. THAT is why you don’t see the holiday surpluses of bygone years. Sadly!! Sigh…
Thanks for taking a moment to share about your experience, Deborah! Hoping that there might still be some holiday clearance leftover at stores near you after this season! 🤞🎄
My husband was gifted a nativity set from his grandmother. Once he opened it, he found 2 Marys and no Joseph. Look over your Christmas items before you buy them. Happy shopping!
Thanks for the helpful tip, Lora! So sorry to hear about the figurines in the set! ❤️
Any idea about Target clearance schedule? I was able to score 90% pre-pandemic (up until 2019) but not anymore. Does the prices still go down to 90%?
Great question! It seems that the discount and schedule varies by store. You might call your nearest location to be sure before making a trip! Hoping we see some good clearance discounts this year! 🤞🎯❤️
My target stops at 70% now. I asked during summer clearance. Halloween went 70 and then packed up.
Walgreens cut back selection and I don’t think it goes to 90% anymore.
I went into the garden area at one of the local Walmarts and it was still packed with Christmas products. If they have to clearance it, there’s going to be a lot to choose from. Even the Christmas aisles in the store were pretty well stocked.
Oh, nice! Thanks for letting us know how stocked your store is, Teri!❤️
My Hobby Lobby had all the Christmas stuff at 70% off yesterday when I went. I had my eye on some wooden snowflakes waiting for after Christmas clearance. I’m so glad I popped in on a whim and was able to get the snowflakes I wanted and a couple of really cute snowmen for 70% off…I’m sure these would all be gone by Monday the 26th! Finding this deal made my day:)
WOOHOO! Glad you could grab the savings, Susan! 🎄❤️
Has anybody seen any Hanukkah clearance anywhere?
Hi Lori! We found some here. Hope you find something you love.❤️
Bed Bath and Beyond in NJ usually has good Hanukkah clearance!
Thank you! I will check out my local BB&B!
Thank You!
You’re welcome, LoriKim! 💕
What time does Kirkland open on December 26th
I would call your local store and ask this
Went to Hobby Lobby on the 24th hoping to get more of their wrapping paper (bought it for the first time and it’s REALLY nice!) — was hoping to snag it at 60% off for next year and not a roll was a left and I asked the lady working — she said that the wrap has been gone for at least a couple of weeks. Lots of decor was left at my local store though for those out hunting for bargains today!
Wow! Good to know how nice their wrapping paper is! Glad you could still find some decor left! Thanks for sharing, Kara!
I had the best luck getting wrapping paper for 25¢ at Big Lots last year
SWEET! Thanks for the heads up on the deal you scored last year! ❤️🙌
Off the subject but my Amazon is coming up for renewal before the end of the year and how can I get it cheaper then $139.00. I remember a post about it but can’t find it
Thank you for your help and for all you’ve done in 2022.!
Hi Patty! It seems that was available to do in the past when purchasing an Amazon gift card, before the pricing went up. Hope this helps! ❤️
Just a word on saving non-food gifts. This is not always the best idea as things like pens and paints may dry out, nail polishes and lotions may separate, etc. I steer clear of anything with liquids and buy gift sets like hair accessories, jewelry, towels, etc. Sets with things like mugs and cocoa can be pulled apart and the mugs (along with any other non-edible items like spoons) can be put in a basket with fresh cocoa and marshmallows when giving next year. (I’ve done this and we just use the cocoa it comes with right away and put away the rest of the kit to use as a gift the following year.)
Thanks so much for the warning and helpful tips! Good to know! ❤️🙌
Got bag loads this morning at Walmart and Walgreens for next year. YIPPEE!!
Yay! Happy you could score so many great items on the cheap! 🙌🎉
Amber, could you enlighten me on the Gift card from Amazon. I can’t seem to find the thread from H2S in the Spring about renewing your Amazon
Thank You.
I’m so sorry about that confusion, Patty. ❤️That tip will not work now. That previous post has been updated with different details for Prime Membership. We’ll be sure to keep an eye out for any futher ways to save on Prime that may become available. 🤞💖
Seems like every place started clearance before Christmas this year too. I haven’t paid full price for wrapping paper in probably 10 years haha. Just keep restocking during clearance!
Awesome to hear that, Amy! Glad you’ve been able to grab wrapping paper for so cheap each year! 🙌💖
Went to Walmart this morning and got some great deals at 50 percent off. Does anyone know when Walmart clearance will go to 75 percent off?
It seems that can vary by location. Hoping you see 75% off at your store soon! 🤞💞
Hobby lobby in Michigan just started 75% off.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing, Ellen! 🤗
I have found my best deals shopping the price scanners. Today at Target I found a box of greeting cards and a set of shirt boxes near the scanners, despite there not being any left in the main section. I guess someone didn’t like the prices and just left them there? This is not to say I am encouraging people to not put things back they don’t like – but if somebody else did it, why not benefit from it?
Thanks for sharing where you spotted deals at! I’ve found some items the same way before! 🙌❤️
Just chiming in to say that this is a YMMV situation. Last year, our local Wally World did not have diddly for clearance, except for the traditional stuff they always have. Not to fear. We travelled to a WM about half an hour away, and lo and behold — clearance as far as the eye could see. We had so much fun looking through everything. It took a while, but we found so much good stuff. Happy Shopping, everyone!!!
Thanks for taking a moment to share about your previous clearance finds, Tammy! It does absolutely seem to vary by store – from selection to discount. 💕